The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband

Meanwhile, Lucille sighed in relief, grateful that the mysterious man from the elevator hadn't followed her. Collecting herself, she took a deep breath and swiftly changed into scrubs and a white coat in the changing room. Stepping out, she inadvertently collided with Nurse Cindy, who seemed quite flustered.

"What's going on? Are you in a rush?" Lucille furrowed her brow, observing Cindy's anxious expression.

"I'm so glad you're here!" Cindy exclaimed, clutching her clipboard tightly. "If you hadn't shown up, that patient would have caused a scene on the operating table, no doubt." She rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated by the situation.

Offering a reassuring pat on Cindy's shoulder, Lucille smiled and headed toward the patient's ward. She could hear the patient's distressed cries as soon as she entered. Cindy had been right—this patient was proving to be quite difficult for the nursing staff. Letting out a soft sigh, Lucille approached with a gentle demeanor. She greeted the patient and tenderly wiped away his tears.

A smile immediately brightened the elderly patient's face upon seeing Lucille, but he voiced his complaint, "I don't want an injection."

"Don't worry. The anesthesia will help you not to feel any pain. Please cooperate with us, okay?" Lucille coaxed him. Her voice filled with reassurance. After some time and a patient explanation, he finally relented, and the nurses quickly prepared to transport him to the operating room.

Ethan, the doctor overseeing the operation, approached Lucille with a warm smile, praising her skills. "You're truly exceptional at dealing with patients."

Shaking her head modestly, Lucille waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not that extraordinary. It's just that patients trust me."

"Let's begin the operation, shall we?" she said, her smile unwavering as she followed the team. With everyone prepared and adequately sanitized, they administered anesthesia to the patient and initiated the surgical procedure. Lucille took charge of the surgical tray, ensuring the instruments were for Ethan.

Although Lucille had already become a skilled surgeon, she recognized the importance of continuously learning from her experienced colleagues. While she had performed numerous minor surgeries, leading a complex brain surgery was still a challenge she aspired to attain. During her residency at the hospital, she frequently collaborated with Ethan, a renowned neurosurgeon and the head doctor. Their professional relationship had developed into a seamless understanding, making their collaboration effortless.

Observing Lucille's pale complexion, Ethan couldn't help but furrow his brows, concern evident in his eyes. "Are you feeling unwell? Your face appears pale. Since the patient is under anesthesia, you can take a break and rest."

Caught off guard, Lucille stared blankly for a moment before responding, "No, I'm fine. Let's proceed."

Meanwhile, inside the VIP ward, a beautiful patient sat on the hospital bed, her brows furrowed in frustration. With a furious glare, she ignored the food served to her by the man standing before her.

"Do you think I won't inform Henry that you're neglecting your duties, Kevin? You have no concern for me, do you?" Iris shouted, but Kevin remained silent.

"Why hasn't Henry arrived yet? Answer me!" She seethed, but her words were brushed aside as Kevin maintained his silence. Taking a deep breath, she growled, "Once I marry Henry, firing you will be the first thing I do!"

"Miss-" Kevin attempted to respond, but his words were stifled when someone interrupted him.

"Whom do you wish to terminate?" A cold voice resonated, causing both Kevin and Iris to freeze in their positions. They turned their heads to find Henry entering the ward.

Henry strode in, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. He exuded casual elegance, wearing a white shirt and black pants. Unlike his usual imposing presence, he seemed unthreatening, yet every movement carried an undercurrent of awe-inspiring majesty.

His eyes, devoid of emotional fluctuations, held a depth as impenetrable as the ocean's abyss. No one could decipher what thoughts resided within him.

"Who offended you, Miss Ward?" Henry raised an eyebrow.

"Henry!" Iris cooed, her initial anger dissolving into a bashful smile upon seeing him. "With your protection, no one dares to cross me."

As Iris spoke, she cast dagger-like glares at Kevin, but her expression softened when she faced Henry. "I'm still unfamiliar with the script I received, so I'm practicing my lines."

"I warned you that acting is challenging, but you didn't listen. Now, you've injured your legs because of it. If your grandparents find out, I'm sure they'll forbid you from pursuing acting again," Henry stated flatly, his words striking a chord of fear within Iris.

Anxiously, she reached for his hand and squeezed it. "No, please! Don't let them know. I love acting, and I don't know what I would do if I had to quit. It's the only passion I have..."

Iris thrived on attention, and acting was her avenue to showcase her beauty. Moreover, being supported by the influential Moore family provided her with a shield against any trouble in the entertainment industry. Although she entered through privileged means, she took pride in her craft. Within two years, she had risen from an inexperienced newcomer to an A-list celebrity, leveraging her connections. Still in the prime of her life, the thought of retiring prematurely felt like a waste of all her efforts.

As an actress, Iris could effortlessly conjure tears. She gazed at Henry with a tearful expression, blinking her sorrowful eyes.

Observing her display, Henry sighed, gently retracting his hand and offering reassurance. "Don't worry. I won't tell them. Come on, have something to eat."

A sense of loss began to creep over Iris as she realized Henry was setting a boundary. She bit her lip, suppressing her emotions. After all her efforts, she couldn't afford to let that line come between them. A coy smile flickered across her lips, and she murmured, "I know you always treat me the best!"

Yet, her attempts to sway him always fell flat. Henry didn't respond and simply gestured for her to eat. Once they finished their meal, he glanced at his watch and prepared to leave.

Just as he was about to depart, Iris grabbed his hand. "Can you stay with me tonight? It's dreadful to be alone here, and I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep."

"I still have something to attend to," Henry promptly refused without a second thought.

Upon hearing his words, tears welled up in Iris' eyes. She gazed at him with wide, teary eyes, her trembling lashes giving away her emotions.

Impatience crept into Henry's heart, yet he managed to maintain composure and nodded. He settled himself on the couch, eliciting a sense of happiness from Iris. She reclined back and closed her eyes, eventually succumbing to a deep sleep.

The moment Iris drifted off, Henry stood up and glanced at Kevin before striding out of the ward. Kevin stole a final look at Iris before following in his footsteps.

Meanwhile, a grueling four-hour surgery had finally concluded inside the operating room.

"The operation was a success," Ethan announced with a relieved smile that reverberated throughout the medical team. They carefully transferred the patient to a stretcher bed, and the nurses swiftly wheeled him out of the operating room en route to his designated ward.

Taking a deep breath, Lucille gingerly massaged her head. Dizziness overwhelmed her, and her temples throbbed with piercing pain. Someone beat her to it just as she was about to remove her surgical cap.

"What happened, Lucy? Did someone harm you?" Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he noticed the dried bloodstain on the back of her neck, large enough to indicate a significant wound.

His question brought back the events from earlier, and a mixture of complex emotions flickered in Lucille's eyes, which glistened momentarily with unshed tears. However, she swiftly regained her composure.

Smiling calmly, she replied placidly, "No one has hit me, Ethan. It was just an accidental injury."

As a colleague who had worked alongside Lucille for many years, Ethan couldn't help but sense that something was amiss. Yet, he wouldn't push her to share it if she didn't wish to.

Taking a deep breath, he expressed his helplessness, "I'll help you clean and disinfect it."

Lucille nodded, and together they made their way to the nurse station. Ethan carefully cleaned and bandaged her wound. Just as they were about to leave the station, their path was blocked by four men donning police uniforms.

"Excuse me, we're looking for Ms. Lucille Powell. Does she work here?" one of them inquired.

Lucille froze, confused and nervous, enveloping her upon hearing her name. A sense of foreboding settled in as if she could anticipate the intent behind their presence.